BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the invention
[0001] The present invention relates, in general, to cooking apparatus. In particular, the
invention relates to a microwave cooking apparatus wherein a magnetron for generating
microwaves and a rotatable device for reflecting the microwaves from the magnetron
into a cooking chamber are employed.
2. Description of the prior art
[0002] As is well known, microwave cooking apparatus, such as microwave ovens, typically
include a fan device for cooling electric components, such as, e.g., a magnetron,
a transformer, etc., and for ventilating the cooking chamber. The microwave cooking
apparatus also generally includes a rotatable reflector arranged between the magnetron
and the cooking chamber for reflecting microwaves from the magnetron. The reflector
is rotated by the force of cooling air generated by the fan device. Thus, the microwaves
reflected by the reflector are uniformly fed to the cooking chamber.
[0003] One of the microwave cooking apparatus described above is disclosed in Japanese Utility
Model Laid-open Publication No. 1159/1978, filed June 23, 1976 in the name of Ichiro
Hori, and entitled HIGH FREQUENCY HEATING APPARATUS.
[0004] In this prior art, a reflecting chamber in which a rotatable reflector is disposed
is provided on a cooking chamber. Some of the cooling air generated by a fan device
is directed to the reflecting chamber. The remaining cooling air is supplied to a
magnetron for cooling the magnetron, and then is fed to the reflecting chamber.
[0005] Those two cooling airs described above are re-joined in the reflecting chamber, and
rotate the reflector. After that, the re-joined air enters into the cooking chamber,
and then is discharged from the chamber. At this time, the vapor and the grease generated
from food during cooking may be exhausted from the cooking chamber together with the
cooling air.
[0006] In the above described prior art, a suitable amount of the cooking air generated
by the fan device is supplied to the reflecting chamber for rotating the reflector,
and then is fed to the cooking chamber. The remaining cooling air also is supplied
to the cooking chamber through the magnetron and the reflecting chamber. Therefore,
the pressure of the cooling air decreases during the migration described above. As
a result, the vapor and the grease from food in the cooking chamber may not be sufficiently
exhausted from the cooking chamber because of the low pressure of the cooling air.
Thus, a large capacity fan device is needed in this prior art apparatus if the vapor
and the grease in the cooking chamber are to be discharged sufficiently. In addition,
in this prior art apparatus, recirculation of the exhausted cooling air may be occurred
because of its exhaust port provided close to the intake port.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] It is an object of the present invention to provide sufficient air to the reflecting
chamber and the cooking chamber of a microwave cooking apparatus at a sufficient pressure
with a fan device having a small capacity fan motor.
[0008] To accomplish the above-noted, the microwave cooking apparatus includes a heating
compartment having a cooking zone and a reflecting zone located above the cooking
zone. The microwave cooking apparatus further includes a magnetron for radiating microwaves
to the cooking zone through the reflecting zone. A rotatable reflector is disposed
to the reflecting zone for reflecting microwaves from the magnetron. The microwave
cooking apparatus further includes a fan device for supplying air under pressure into
the heating compartment. The fan device includes a duct device separating the supplied
air at least a first flow path communicating a portion of the air to the reflecting
zone for rotating the reflector, and a second flow path bypassing the reflecting
zone and communicating a portion of the air to the cooking zone for ventilating the
cooking zone.
[0009] The microwave cooking apparatus may include a partition wall for defining a reflecting
chamber as the reflecting zone and a cooking chamber as the cooking zone in the heating
compartment. The reflecting chamber may be provided with an air guide for concentrating
the air from the first flow path onto the reflector.
[0010] The microwave cooking apparatus further includes an exhausting passage for exhausting
the air from the cooking apparatus. The exhausting passage may be provided with a
deflection plate for directing the exhausted air from the cooking apparatus.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] The present invention is best understood with reference to accompanying drawings
in which:
FIGURE 1 is a vertical sectional view illustrating a microwave oven according to an
embodiment of the present invention;
FIGURE 2 is a cross sectional plan view illustrating the microwave oven, as shown
in FIGURE 1;
FIGURE 3 is a side view of the microwave oven with no outer casing, as shown in FIGURES
1 and 2;
FIGURE 4 is a perspective schematic view, partly broken away, illustrating the inside
of a reflecting chamber, as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2; and
FIGURE 5 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating another ExampIe of an air exhausting
port of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0012] Referring to the accompanying drawings, an embodiment of the present invention will
be described.
[0013] FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a microwave oven of one embodiment.
[0014] A heating compartment 11 is disposed in a oven body 13. heating compartment 11 is
partitioned into a cooking chamber 15 and a reflecting chamber 17 with a plastic partition
wall 19 disposed across heating compartment 11. reflecting chamber 17 is positioned
on cooking chamber 15.
[0015] The ceiling of reflecting chamber 17 is upwardly concaved, and hereupon a reflector
21 is rotatably suspended.
reflector 21 includes a cross shaped deflecting plate 21a, as shown in FIGURE
2. A perpendicular fan-like blade 21b extends upward from the edge of each elongated
arm portion 21c of cross-shaped deflecting plate 21a. reflector 21 is rotatably supported
by a stationary shaft 23 downwardly projecting from the ceiling of reflecting chamber
17.
[0016] The bottom portion of cooking chamber 15 is concaved downward, and a tray 25 is laid
across the concaved bottom portion of cooking chamber 15.
[0017] A machinery chamber 27 is established between the right side wall of heating compartment
11 and the outer wall of body 13, as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2. A plurality of air
intake holes 29 are formed at the front side of the bottom surface of oven body 13
within machinery chamber 27, as shown in FIGURES 2 and 3.
[0018] A high-voltage transformer 31 is arranged on the bottom surface of oven body 13 near
air intake holes 29.
[0019] A magnetron 33 exposed to machinery chamber 27 is mounted on the upper center portion
of the right side wall of heating compartment 11. The antenna 35 of magnetron 33 penetrates
the right side wall of heating compartment 11, and projects the inside of reflecting
chamber 17.
[0020] As can be seen in FIGURE 3, a fan device 37 is disposed to the area adjacent to transformer
31 in machinery chamber 27. Fan device 37 includes a fan casing 39 in which fan 41
is positioned, and a motor 43 for driving fan 41. Fan casing 39 includes an air intake
port 39a and an air discharge port 39b. Fan casing 39 is arranged in machinery chamber
27 so that air intake port 39a faces transformer 31, and air discharge port 39b opens
upward, as shown in FIGURES 1 and 3.
[0021] As shown in FIGURE 3, a plurality of first through holes 45 are provided to the side
wall of heating compartment 11 at the right hand side of magnetron 23. A plurality
of second through holes 47 are provided to the side wall of heating compartment 11
at the left hand side of magnetron 23.
[0022] As shown in FIGURE 4, the surface area of partition wall 19 adjacent to first through
holes 45 and antenna 35 of magnetron 33 is concaved toward cooking chamber 15 to expose
first through holes 45 and antenna 35 to reflecting chamber 17. Second through holes
47 are exposed to cooking chamber 15. An air guide plate 49 is disposed between first
through holes 45 and antenna 35 of magnetron 33 in reflecting chamber 17.
[0023] A first duct cover 51 is provided between magnetron 33 and an discharge port 33 of
fan casing 39 to establish a first air path 53 therebetween. The air from air discharge
port 33 of fan casing 39 is supplied to reflecting chamber 17 through first through
holes 45 along first air path 53. The air from fan casing 39 is also supplied to magnetron
33.
[0024] A second duct cover 55 is provided between magnetron 33 and second through holes
47. A second air path 57 is defined by second duct cover 55 and the side wall of cooking
compartment 11. The air from magnetron 33 is guided by second duct cover 55, and is
supplied to cooking chamber 15 through second through holes 47. As shown in FIGURE
2, the distance between second duct cover 55 and the side wall of heating compartment
11 is preferably gradually reduced from magnetron 33 toward the front side of oven
body 13. The air from magnetron 33 may concentrate to second through holes 47 by second
duct cover 55.
[0025] A plurality of third through holes 58 are provided to the left-hand side wall of
heating compartment 11 exposed to reflecting chamber 17. A plurality of fourth through
holes 59 also are provided to the left-hand side wall of heating compartment 11 exposed
to cooking chamber 15. An air discharge path 61 is established between the left-hand
side wall of heating compartment 11 and the outer wall of oven body 13. As can be
seen in FIGURE 1, the bottom surface of oven body 13 facing to the bottom of heating
compartment 11 is concaved downward in a rectangular-shape. Each side wall of the
concaved portion 63 of the bottom is slanted inward, as shown in Figure 1. A plurality
of air exhausting holes 65 are provided to the left-hand side wall of concaved portion
63.
[0026] The air from reflecting chamber 17 through third through holes 58 and the air from
cooking chamber 15 through fourth through holes 59 are re-joined in air discharge
path 61 into discharge air. To avoid recirculation of the discharge air, the discharge
air is exhausted from exhausting holes 65 in the direction opposite to machinery chamber
27 at which air intake holes 29 are provided.
[0027] As shown in FIGURE 1, to separate machinery chamber 27 and air discharge path 61
airtightly, an elongated bar material 67 is fixed between the upper wall of oven body
13 and the ceiling of heating compartment 11. An elongated bar material 69 also is
provided between the bottom wall of oven body 13 and the bottom surface of heating
compartment 11. The both side walls and upper and lower walls of heating compartment
11 extend between the front and rear walls of oven body 13, as shown in FIGURE 3.
[0028] A front door 71 is hinged at the front side of oven body 13 to open and close cooking
chamber 15, as shown in FIGURE 2.
[0029] The operation of the above-described embodiment will be described hereafter.
[0030] First, food is arranged on tray 25. A desired cooking time is set through an operation
panel 73 on which start and stop keys, a cooking time setting knob, etc. are provided.
[0031] When the start key (not shown) is operated, magnetron 33 is energized through transformer
31. Microwaves generated by magnetron 33 are supplied to reflecting chamber 17 from
antenna 35 of magnetron 33.
[0032] In response to the operation of the start key, motor 43 of fan device 37 also is
energized. Cooling air is taken from the atmosphere into machinery chamber 27 through
air intake holes 29. Since high-voltage transformer 31 is positioned between air intake
holes 29 and fan device 37, transformer 31 may be cooled by the cooling air from air
intake holes 29.
[0033] After cooling transformer 31, the cooling air is directed into fan casing 39. The
cooling air is supplied to the first air path 53 from air discharge port 39b of fan
casing 39.
[0034] The cooling air is divided into driving air and ventilating air in first air path
53. The driving air enters into reflecting chamber 17 through first through holes
45. The driving air concentrates on fan-like blade 21c of reflector 21 by air guide
plate 49. Thus, the driving air rotates reflector 21 in reflecting chamber for scattering
microwaves fed from antenna 35 of magnetron 33. The scattered microwaves are applied
to the food on tray 25 through partition wall 19. As a consequence, the food may be
heated uniformly. Then, the driving air goes out into air discharge path 61 through
third through holes 58 of reflecting chamber 17.
[0035] The ventilating air moves around magnetron 33 for cooling magnetron 33, and then
reaches second air path 57 Furthermore, the ventilating air enters into cooking chamber
15 through second through holes 47 of cooking chamber 15. Then, the ventilating air
goes out into air discharge path 61 through fourth through holes 59 of cooking chamber
15. When the ventilating air is discharged from cooking chamber 15, the ventilating
air conveys the vapor and the grease from the food to the outside of cooking chamber
15.
[0036] As can be understood from FIGURES 1 and 2, the driving air and the ventilating air
are re-joined in air discharge path 61 to become discharge air. The discharge air
finally goes out from oven body 13 through exhausting holes 65.
[0037] It should be noted that a plurality of deflecting plates 75 may be provided near
exhausting holes 65 for effectively exhausting the discharge air from exhausting holes
65 away from machinery chamber 27 at which air intake holes 29 are provided, as shown
in FIGURE 5.
[0038] According to the embodiment described above, the cooling air generated by the fan
device is divided into driving air for rotating the reflector in reflecting chamber
and ventilating air for ventilating the cooking chamber. The driving air directly
enters into the reflecting chamber. The ventilating air by-pass the reflecting chamber
and enters into the cooking chamber through a magnetron. Therefore. appropriate air
for each chamber may be supplied. Pressure loss of the ventilating air may be reduced,
as compared with the prior art described above. Generally, fan efficiency of a fan
device is enhanced as a pressure loss reduces. Therefore. in this embodiment, a small
capacity fan motor may be used for rotating the reflector and for ventilating the
cooking chamber.
[0039] An experiment was carried out to prove the above-described effects. According to
this experiment, desirable results are confirmed even though the thickness of a fan
motor core used to the conventional fan device is reduced from 20 mm to 16 mm.
[0040] The present invention has been described with respect to a specific embodiment. However,
other embodiments based on the principles of the present invention should be obvious
to those of ordinary skill in the art. Such embodiments are intended to be covered
by the claims.
1. A microwave cooking apparatus comprising an outer casing (13), a heating compartment
(11) having a reflecting zone and a cooking zone for recieving food to be cooked,
a magnetron (33) for generating microwaves radiated to the reflecting zone in the
heating compartment, rotatable reflector (21) in the reflecting zone for reflecting
the microwaves onto the food in the cooking zone, and fan device (37) for supplying
air under pressure into the heating compartment characterized in that the cooking
apparatus further includs a duct device separating the supplied air at least a first
flow path (53) communicating a portion of the air to the reflecting zone for rotating
the reflector, and a second flow path (57) by-passing the reflecting zone and communicating
a portion of the air to the cooking zone for ventilating the cooking zone.
2. An apparatus according to claim 1 further including an air discharge path (61)
for exhausting the air from the heating compartment (11) to the outside of the cooking
apparatus.
3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the duct device includes an air guide
(49) for concentrating the air from the first flow path (53) onto the reflector.
4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the heating compartment (11) includes
partition wall (19) for separating the cooking zone from the reflecting zone.
5. An apparatus according to claim 2 further including air intake opening (29) for
communicating the air from the outside of the cooking apparatus to the fan device
(37).
6. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the air discharge path (61) includes
a deflecting plate (75) for directing the exhausted air away from the air intake opening
(29).
7. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the outer casing (13) includes an outward
convex portion at the bottom wall thereof, the convex portion being connected to the
air discharge path (61) for fluid communication.
8. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the convex portion includes an exhausting
opening (65) at the side wall opposite to the air intake opening (29).
9. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the convex portion further includes
an air guide plate (75) in the vicinity of the exhausting opening (65) for deflecting
the exhausted air away from the air intake opening (29).